dodsworth



March 3, 1964 J. w. DODSWORTH TAPE FEED APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l l FIG. 2

INVENTOR. JAMES w. DODSWORTH wy/M ATTORNEY March 1964 J. w. DODSWORTH 3, 6

TAPE FEED APPARATUS Filed NOV. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAM ES W. DODS WORT H BY ATTORN EY FIG. 4

FIG. 5

United States Patent F 3,123,267 TAPE FEED APPARATKE James W. Dodsworth, Mount Tabor, NJ assigncr to Monroe Caieuiating Machine (Iompany, Orange, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 22, W61, Ser. No. 154,24 11 (Ilaims. (Cl. 226-4 1) This invention relates to tape feed apparatus and particularly to means in such apparatus for indicating tape feed failure.

Tape feed failure may occur for a number of reasons; namely breakage of the tape, torn sprocket feed holes, exhaustion of the tape supply, and failure of the drive to the feed sprocket.

it is the primary object of the invention to provide improved means, relatively simple in structure and exceptionally reliable in operation for indicating tape feed failure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tape punch embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tape punch.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the tape feed drive means.

FIG. 4 is a detailed side elevation of the devices of the invention with the parts in an operated position.

FIG, 5 is a detailed side elevation of parts of FIG. 4 in another operated position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional detailed view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic of control means for the devices of the invention.

In accordance with the invention, operation of the tape feed apparatus is suspended to indicate tape feed failure. This is the most usual and desirable manner of indicating the tape feed failure. Additionally, he ever, the invention provides a signaling device which may be remotely located from the apparatus to indicate tape feed failure.

The invention is disclosed as operating in conjunction with the tape punch of the type fully disclosed in application S.N. 561,759, new Pat. No. 3,018,040 to Nathaniel B. Wales, ir. It will, however, be understood that the invention is intended for use with other tape processing apparatus including tape feed mechanism.

The tape punch 1 (FIGS. 1, 2) includes a plurality of punch solenoids 2 and a tape feed solenoid 3. Solenoids 2, 3 are of the well-known Ledex type wherein rotary motion is imparted to an armature shaft to operate parts connected with the shaft. Punch solenoids 2 operate punch members (not shown) and solenoid 3 operates a tape feed pawl 5 (FIG. 3) which is adapted to operate a toothed wheel 8 fast on shaft 9 of a sprocket wheel it which engages feed holes in tape 11.

Pawl 5 is rotatably mounted on a member 6 fixed on shaft 7 of solenoic 3. Normally pawl 5 is held clockwise by a li ht spring with an: extension at its lower end engaging shaft '7 which is normally held counterclockwise by a relatively strong spring.

When solenoid 3 is pulsed, shaft 7 will be rocked clockwise and pawl 5' will engage wheel 8 thereby rotating the wheel and sprocket it to advance tape 11 one step of movement. Then pawl 5 will be restored as the solenoid is deenergized. Upon each advancement of the tape, a detent 8a engaging wheel 8 will positively locate the entrained parts.

Punch solenoids 2 are selectively energized by circuit means including a switch 12 (FIG. 7) which is operable to break the circuit to the panel The punch solenoids are selectively energized in a readout operation as an in- 3,123,267 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 cident to rotation of a shaft 13 as fully disclosed in the aforenoted application.

After each punching operation a pulsing cam 14 on shaft .13 is operable to control closing and then opening of a switch 15 to effect operation of tape feed solenoid 3. Accordingly, selected punch solenoids 2 and feed solenoid 3 are alternately operable upon rotation of shaft 16.

In accordance with the invention, a rotary stepping solenoid 17 (FIGS. 1, 2, 7) of the same type as solenoids 2, 3 is electrically connected in parallel with feed solenoid 3, and will therefore be pulsed simultaneously with solenoid 3. Solenoid 17 is secured on a plate 18 which is located outwardly from the side of punch 1 on a pair of posts 19 and 2d the inner ends of which are mounted on a plate 2 1 secured on the side of the punch.

Armature shaft 17a (FIGS. 1, 6) of solenoid 17 extends a short distance inwardly and has fixed thereon a depending arm 22 which is normally held counterclockwise by a spring 22s and which arm 22 carries an inward- 1y extending pin 22p. Pin 22p engages a slot at the end of a depending arm 28a of a spring clutch 23. Clutch 23 is of well-known type and is mounted on a shaft 24 which is axially aligned with shaft 17a and is staked at its inner end on plate 21.

Arm 23a of clutch 23 is fast on a hub member 231) which is rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end of shaft 24 ad which comprises the driving member of the clutch. The driven member of the clutch comprises the cylinder like member 23c rotatably mounted on shaft 24 between hub 23b and plate 2.1. The driven member 230 includes longitudinally extending straight knurling or fine teeth 23! (FIGS. 2, 6) engaged by a back stop pawl 25 (FIG. 1) and for a purpose later described.

Means for coupling driving member 231) and driven member 23c of clutch 26 comprises a coil spring 23s wound on said members with its outermost end fast on member 2310 and its inner end free on member 230. When solenoid i7 is energized, shaft 17a, arm 22, arm 23a and hub 2% will be rotated clockwise. This will tighten spring 23s on members 2312 and 230, and therefore the two members will be driven clockwise together. However, spring 23s will be loosened when the parts including hub 2312 are restored counterclockwise upon deenergization of solenoid 17. As a result, member 230 will remain in clockwise driven position, any reverse movement being prevented by back stop pawl 25. Accordingly, it will be seen that member 230 will be driven step by step clockwise as solenoid 17 is pulsed in unison with tape feed solenoid 3.

A pair of horizontally disposed racks 27, 2% (FIGS. 1, 4, 5) are adapted to be alternately advanced from a home position by teeth 232 of driven member of clutch 23. Racks 2 7, 23 are slidably supported side by side on post 28 which engages a longitudinal slot in each rack extending from its right end. The racks extend toward the left beneath driven clutch member 23c and teeth along the upper edges of the racks are adapted to engage teeth 231i of the clutch mem' er. Li ht springs 3d bias racks 27, 28 toward the right to a home position wherein the left ends of the slots in the racks will engage post Z Also springs bias the racks counterclockwise around post The left ends of the racks therefore are biased downwardly from disengagement with teeth 231 of clutch member 23c.

A pair of cranks 3:1, 32; mounted on plate 21 are associated respectively with racks 2 7, 23. Each crank includes a rightwardly extending arm, and the arms carry flanged rollers 31a, 32a which respectively engage the right under edges of racks 27, 2d. Relatively strong springs 33 bias cranks 31, 32 counterclockwise. Rollers 3.1a, 32a therefore are effective to raise the left ends of racks 2'7, 25 against the urge of weak springs 30.

Cranks 31, 32 include upstanding arms respectively engaged by cams 35, 36. Cams 35, 36 are fiXed on the outer end of a rotatably mounted shaft 37 etxending transversely of punch 1, through the side plates thereof, and outwardly through plate 21. The cams each includes a pair of opposed lobes and are angularly positioned at 180 from each other on shaft 37.

A friction roller 38 is fast on shaft 37 between the side frames of punch 1, and tape 11 passes over this roller as it is pulled through the punch by sprocket wheel 10. A pair of spring pressure fingers 35? press against the upper surface of tape 11 as it passes over roller 38. Roller 38 and earns 35, 35 will therefore be rotated by tape 11 as it is fed through the machine. However, if there is failure of the tape feed, rotation of roller 38 and cams 35, $6 will be immediately suspended. During normal tape feed operation the devices function as follows.

With reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen that a low side of cam 35 engages crank 31 which will be rocked counterclockwise by its spring 33 thereby raisin roller 31a and the left end of rack 27 to engage teeth 23 of clutch member 23c which is driven step by step clockwise as tape 11 is fed. Rack 27 therefore will be advanced leftward from its home position as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, a lobe of cam 36 will engage crank 32 which will therefore be rocked clockwise to lower roller 32a. Rack 28 therefore will be lowered from engagement with teeth 231 and restored to its right home position by spring 30.

As rack 27 is advanced leftward, a lug 2% at its lower right end is moved toward a switch arm 12a of previously noted switch 12. However, before lug 27a can engage arm 12a, a lobe of cam 35 will rock crank 31 clockwise to cause rack 27 to be moved from engagement with teeth 231 and restored to right home position in the same manner as described in connection with rack 23. Just prior to engagement of the lobe of cam 35 with crank 31, a low side of cam 36 will engage crank 32., and therefore rack 28 will be engaged with teeth 23t. Rack 28 therefore will be advanced to move a lug 28a toward switch arm 12a. This advancement also will be terminated as described for rack 27 before lug 28a engages the switch arm.

The alternate ineffectual advancement and retraction of racks 27, 23 will continue as long as the tape feed iechanism is effective to advance the tape. The arrangement is such that a low side of one cam 35 or 36 will remain in engagement with its crank 31 or 32 long enough to permit engagement of a low side of the other cam with its crank. Consequently, there will be a slight overlapping of the engagement of racks 27, 28 with teeth 231 of clutch member 23c. Therefore, should the tape feed fail and the drive to cams 35, 36 be suspended, one or both of racks 27, 28 will be engaged for advancement by clutch 23 as solenoid 17 is pulsed.

After a predetermined advancement of a rack 27 or 28, a lug 27a or 23a will engage switch arm 12a of switch 12 (FIG. Switch 12 is of well-known type and is normally biased to the position of PEG. 7 wherein a circuit is closed for stepping solenoid 1'7, feed solenoid 3 and the punch solenoids as previously described.

When switch arm 12:; is engaged by a lug 27a, Eda, switch 12 will be operated from the position of FIG. 7 to break the circuit to the punch and to close a circuit for a suitable warning device 40 which may be remotely located from the punch. As a result, tape failure is indicated by suspension of operation of the tape feed apparatus, and further by the warning device.

Various modifications may obviously be made without departing from the principles of operation of the invention. The invention therefore is to be restricted only as necessitated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

4. I claim: 1. In a tape feed apparatus including feed means for a tape:

([1) adjustable means adapted to be adjusted from a normal position,

(b) drive means operable in time with said feed means for adjusting said adjustable means,

(c) means periodically operable in response to feed movement of said tape to disconnect said drive means from said adjustable means,

(6!) means operable upon said disconnection of said drive means to restore said adjustable means toward normal position, and

(e) means operable upon a given adjustment of said adjustable means to indicate tape feed failure.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein:

(f) said indicating means includes means for terminating operation of said feed means.

3. In a tape feed apparatus including feed means for a tape:

(a) A member adapted to be advanced from a home position,

( b) drive means operable in time with said feed means for advancing said member,

(0) means periodically operable in response to feed movement of said tape to release said drive means from said member,

(d) means operable upon said release of said drive means to restore said member toward home position, and

(e) means operable upon a given advance of said member to terminate operation of said feed means.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein:

(1) said means for restoring said member includes resilient means for biasing said member toward home position.

5. In a tape feed apparatus including feed means for a tape:

(a) A pair of members each adapted to be advanced from a home position,

(b) drive means operable in time with said feed means for advancing said members,

(0) means periodically operable in response to feed movement of said tape to disable said drive means alternately with respect to one and the other of said members,

(0!) means operable to restore each member toward home position during disablement of said drive means therefor, and

(e) means operable upon a given advance of each member to terminate operation of said feed means.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein:

(f) resilient means for biasing each member toward home position comprises said means for restoring.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein:

(g) means is provided for engaging each member with said drive means, and

(It) said means for disabling said drive means comprises means for disengaging each member from said drive means.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein:

(i) said means for engaging each member includes resilient means, and said means for disengaging each member is operable against the urge of said resilient means.

9. In a tape feed apparatus including feed means for a tape:

(a) a pair of racks each adapted to be advanced from a home position,

(b) a gear driven in time with said feed means for advancing said racks,

(0) means for engaging said racks with said gear,

(d) means periodically operable in response to feed movement of said tape to disengage said racks alternately from said gear,

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein:

(j) said means for disengaging said racks includes a friction roller driven by said tape and a pair of cams driven by said roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,464,601 Nichols Mar. 15, 1949 2,911,905 Marvin et al. Nov. 10, 1959 3,044,675 Turner et al. July 17, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 846,655 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1960 

1. IN A TAPE FEED APPARATUS INCLUDING FEED MEANS FOR A TAPE: (A) ADJUSTABLE MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ADJUSTED FROM A NORMAL POSITION, (B) DRIVE MEANS OPERABLE IN TIME WITH SAID FEED MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS, (C) MEANS PERIODICALLY OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO FEED MOVEMENT OF SAID TAPE TO DISCONNECT SAID DRIVE MEANS FROM SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS, (D) MEANS OPERABLE UPON SAID DISCONNECTION OF SAID DRIVE MEANS TO RESTORE SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS TOWARD NORMAL POSITION, AND (E) MEANS OPERABLE UPON A GIVEN ADJUSTMENT OF SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS TO INDICATE TAPE FEED FAILURE. 